table leg construction



June 4 1935. J BALEs |:r A Re. 19,596

TABLE LEG CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Aug. 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 CarbTChfifitefoderu 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J E BALES EI'AL TABLE LEG CONSTRUCTIONOriginal Filed Aug. 9, 1929 Reiuued June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES TABLE LEGCONSTRUCTION 1m E. Bales a Carl '1'. Christensen, Aurora,

111., assignors to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, 11]., acorporation of Illinois Original application August 9, 1929, Serial No.384,582. Patent No. 1,860,644, dated May 31, 1932. Divided andapplication June 20, 1930, Serial No. 462,607. Patent No. 1,917,916,dated July 11, 1933.

Almlication for reissue Janua y 9, 1935, Serial No. 1,026

29 Claims.

This invention relates to tables in general and particularly to tableshaving legs which fold beneath the top of the table. v The presentinvention is adivision of application Serial No. 384,582, filed August9, 1929, now PatentNo. 1,860,644, May 31, 1932. I

The primary object of the invention is to provide a table having newandimproved folding legs which are automatically locked in position whenthe legs are extended.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding-legconstructionior a table wherein lockim means is provided for the legwhich includes a member shiitable parallel to the longitudinal axis 15of the leg into locking engagement with the cooperative locking memberon the table when the leg is pivotally swung to open position andpreferablv including resilient means mounted within the leg forautomatically bringing about the lockposition together with manuallyactuatable means ior forcibly moving the shiitable locking member out ofengagement with its cooperative locking member Yet another object of theinvention resides in providing a locking construction for a pivotallymounted leg of at table wherein at least the upper portion of the leg isformed hollow or is provided withan opening for housing a. lockingmember and for housing spring means for automatically shifting thelocking member into engagement with the cooperative locking member ofthe table when the 1% is in unfolded condition whereby the lockingmanber is hidden and compactly arranged with regard to the legstructure.

Yet another object of the invention resides in providing a leg lockingmechanism for a table having a pivoted leg wherein the leg member isformed of two relatively movable members, the outer member forming thehousing for the inner member together with suitable latching meanscarried'by one of said members and normally spring-pressed into lockingengagement with the cooperative locking member on the table when the legis swung to open position, and including means manually actuatabl e towithdraw the shii'table locking means from looking engagement with thecooperative locking means,

50 Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lockingconstruction for a table having a pivoted leg wherein the leg carries a.locking lug adapted to be normally spring pressed into lockingengagement with a socket in the table and wherein the shiitable lockingmeans is forcibly ing engagement when the leg is swung to open lookingthe table legs in extended position and which is provided with means forunlocking the legs when the legs are given a partial turn.

' A further object is to provide a table having a support to which thetable legs are pivotally attached, said legs comprising a sleeve portionand a leg portion. Spring means are provided for urging the leg portionin one direction relative to the sleeve portion for locking the leg inextended position. Means are also provided for urging the leg in anopposite direction when the leg portion is given a partial turn.

A further object is to provide the method of making tablelegs whichconsists in inserting a spring having a free end leading through thespring, providinga hole in a closed end of a member through which thefree end of the spring extends, compressing the spring by pulling thefree end, passing fastening means through said member to maintain thespring in compression, and finally cutting the free end of the springand restricting the spring between the fastening meansand the closed endof the member.

The objects and advantages will appear thro hout the progress of thespecification.

The invention comprises in general atable having rails which aremadefrom a single strip of sheet metal. The rails are bentto provideinwardly extending legs which are perpendicular to the vertical plane ofthe rails. These legs are arranged below the table top substantially thesame distance as the thickness of the top. Corner pieces have reducedends which fit into the open ends of the rails and are fastened theretoso that the outside of the rails will be flush with the outside of thecorner pieces. The comer pieces have parallel flanges provided on theirbottoms to which legs are pivotally attached. The legs comprise a sleeveportion and a leg portion received in the sleeve portion. A-spring isconcealed inside of the leg portion, and fastening means extendingthrough the flanges on the corprovided in each corner piece to receivethis pin when the leg is in extended position. To fold the legs it isfirst necessary to give the leg portion a partial turn which wfil bringthe pin out 11 engagement with the socket.

Further, our invention broadly consists in forming a locking mechanismsoc the pivoted leg portion of a folding table wherein the 1128 isarranged to carry a locking umber adapted to be projected automaticallyand preferably by means of a spring housed within the leg, into lockingengagement with a cooperative locking member onthe table, preferablyformed as a socket on the underside of the tabie'm" table frame, whereinwhen the leg is swung to open position, the locking member wiil beautomatically projected into locking engagement. In addition, our invention includes a construction wherein the looking member. whenit movesinto locking engagement with the cooperating locking member on thetable, shifts parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pivoted leg whenthe latter is in its open position. I

Our invention further includes a construction "wherein themiftablemember is housed within 9. 'leg structure or a portion of theleg structure whereby the looking mechanism is rendered sub-,

stantiaily In addition, our construction includes manually actuatablemeans for rorcibl'y retraetingthe shifteble locking mechanism fromengagement with its cooperative lockin mechanism and the prei'erredembodiment of such a muddy slnftable mocking contraction includes aprovision for a turning 'er rotatlve movement of a portion of the tableleg itself in acoomplishmg this.

lected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. l is a detail perspective view of proved table; 1 1

Fig. 2 isa detail sectional view onthe line 2-4 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a'detail bottom view? Fig.4 is a detail perspeetwe view of aninside corner as indicated byline l-l'o! Fig. 3;

i'igj is adetail sectional view on the line H Fig.4;

Fig. 6 is'adetall seetiormil view onthe iine 6- 6 of Fig. showingthe'leginlccked position; g Fig. 7 isaslmflarvlew showing the coded ormflocked'position.

Fig. 8 "is a detail sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5. H v sReferring "to the 1U designates gena'tabie rails H, which are fastenedleg in re- 4 to corner pieces 12. Legs 18 are plvotally connected-tothecomer pieces 1! and a. top is recessed between lentils and supportedby the rails and the comer pieces.

flier-ails H, mg. 8, are made from a singlemipofsheetmetal-andbenttom'ovide the'top and bottom and I! and the sidesI1 and I8 respectively. fire l'reeedg'es and 20 extend mal verticalplane of the rail. Screws or other fastening means 2| extend through thefree edges or legs I! and 20 and engage the top H.

The comm pieces l2, .5. have romiled outer edges 2! and are recessed at23 to provide the reduced legs or flanges 2|. These reduced legs fltinto the end of the rails and are fastened thereto by means of bolts orother fastening means 25. The bolts 25 have an ornamental front faceandane provided with teeth 25, Fig. 8,

and force the metal of the rails as indicated at.

25" into a corresponding depression formed in the legs-crflangesfl ofthe corner member. When the nut on the bolt 25 is tightened the sides l1and :l. m the rails are forced against the face of tlie'leg or flange Mcausing the outer face of the side llhfthe rails to seat in the reducedportion of the corner piece and be substantially flush the outsidethereof. These corner pieceshave an inwardly extendingflange 26, Figs. 6and '7, which is located beiow the top edge 21 of {the corner pieces adistanoesubstantielly equal to the thickness of the top H. These flangeshave their top edges substantially flush with the top of the edges orlegs is or the rails 14. The

top H which may be of laminated constructim has a decorative leather-orother similar covering which is arranged between the rails andcomer-pieces and by the legs 19 and and thees I6 of the earner 20 of therails pieces. i

The table top construction and the manner of forming the rails and otherconstruction relating to the table top 'is disclosed and claimed in theafomsaidcopending application and ismerely insorted herein for-"thepurpose of describing the manner in which the particularleg constructionherein disclosed and claimed may be connectedto thehlr'letop.*

By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the legs 13, Figs. 4to, each include or are made up of a." hollow, elongated member orsleeve and a leg portion proper II, the upper portion of whichtelescopes and is housed by the outer sleeve '80. A separate fitting orother member 82, Figs. 5 and 6, is provided with a closed top '33, Fig.'7. Thls fitting 32 is securely Id by any appropriate means to the legportion II and a eofled expansion spring 3!, Fig. 6. Thesprlng has astraight free end I! which is integral with the bottom coil of thespring and returns upwardly through thecenter of the spring; The springis locsted'in position by dropping it into the bottom of the leg whenthe leg is in irrvfertedpositlony The free end 35 extends through a hole38 provided in the top 33 01' the member :1. The hole 36 maybecountersunk at 31 to facilitate the straight free end 35 of the springin finding thehole 36. The corner members" hnveintegral spaced arms".Fig. 5, Eformed on the bottom thereof and haveoppositely alined circularholes 39, Fig. 5. The sleeve 30 is also provided with oppositely alinedcircular holes 40, while the fitting 32 is provided with diagonal slotsH. The legs l3 are mounted between the arms 88 and pivoted thereto .by I

- 33 of the fitting 32 and is adapted to engage a corresponding memberpreferably a thes locket. provided in the flange 26 of the cornermembers of the table top.

The'spring 34 is confined between the top 33 of the member 82 and thebolt 42 and normally urges the pin 43 into its socket or seat 44. Thispin and socket engagement is caused by the spring urging the leg portionupwardly toward the top of the leg, movement of the leg portion beinglimited bythe length of the diagonal slots 4i. -When the spring isarranged in the upper end of the leg with its free end 35 extendingthrough the hole 16, tension is applied to the spring by pulling thefree end '36 to contract the spring. The leg is then arranged'betweenthe arms 38, and the bolt 42 is inserted in place, after which the freeprojecting end of the spring is cut 03. It is understood, of course,that the legs are pivoted in place and the end of the spring cut oilbefore the table top is fastened in position. In order to release thepin 43 from its socket 44 the leg portion 8| is given a partial causingthe leg portion to move'back into the sleeve due the engagement of thediagonal slots with the bolt 42. when the leg is released ng againcauses the leg portion to attain n "position, movement of the legportion 'being'iimited bythe vertical length of the diagohal slots. Theleg is thereby always in position to be readily locked when it is inextended position, and is quickly unlocked by giving the leg portion IIa partial tum.

A stop or shoulder 45, Fig. 4, is formed between the arms 38 and engagesa part of the leg whenthe leg is in extended position to limit themovement thereof and to provide a bearing sur- "fao'e for steadyins theleg when it is in extended "pos'ltloii. -"The stop is properly spacedwith refeior'we to the'pln and socket so that when the pin-is in thesocket there will be no chance of the sleeve to swing about its pivot.The pin 43 and the socket 44 may be provided with beveled sides, asclearly shown in Figs. 6 and '7, to permit free locking and unlockingengagement. Further, it will be noted that if the leg is swung outwardlyto unfolded position without first manually rotating it to withdraw theprojection 43 downwardly into the housing 30 against the action ofspring 34.- the projection 43 wil be engaged byfiange 28 as itapproaches the opening 44 and be'automatically moved downwardly causingleg rotation against the compressing action of the spring until theprojection reaches the opening 44, whereupon it will snap upwardly intoposition. That is, the locking action is automatic, the arrangement ofparts 43 and shaping of v flange 24 being such that the flange aids inmovthe projection and rotating the leg against a the action of thespring and inthereby guiding it into positon within opening 44.

' It is understood, of course, that the sleeve so may be made polygonalinstead of circular, as shown, and that the entire upper end of the leg'may fit into a corresponding socket instead of usingth'e smallerconical pin 43 engageable with the smalier'socket 44.

The legs are provided with a decorative portion 48, Figs. 1 and 2, suchas fluting or knurling,

I to'decorate the legs and make thetable more at- 1 tractivehnd also toincrease the firmness of the grip of the operator on the table leg tobring the pin '43 61ft of engagement with its socket.

' The ihventionprovides a table leg which is strohgand durable inconstruction, which is -'eilieient in operation, and which can bereadily and economically manufactured. autostructed of relatively fewand simple parts.

Changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of theparts and the various steps in the method may be varied withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of itsadvantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes asfairly fall within the scope of the following claims. I

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. 'A table comprising a leg, means on said leg engageable with a partof said table, means for normally urging the leg lengthwise, and meansfor bringing said first named means out of engagement with said part ofsaid table and against the urging action when said leg is manuallyrotated a predetermined distance about its longitudinal axis.

2. A table comprising a pivoted leg, means including a spring forautomatically locking said leg in extended position, and means forunlocking said leg against the tension of the spring upon turningmovement of said leg about its longitudinal axis.

3. A table comprising a leg having a member thereon, spring means fornormally urging said member outwardly, and means to cause rotativemovement of the leg to produce longitudinal movement thereof.

4. A table comprising a socket member, a fold- 8 kg, means on said legand engageable with said socket member when it is in extended position,means for urging said means toward the socket when the leg is extended,and means act ing against the urging action of said last named means andwithdrawing said first named means out of engagement with said socketmember when the leg is twisted manually.

5. A table comprising a support, a leg pivoted to said support, springcontrolled means for locking said leg in extended position, and meansfor unlocking said leg during axial-turning movement of said leg.

6. A table comprising a support, a leg connected 7. A table comprising aleg, a spring-pressed part extending from said leg, means engageablewith'said part when the leg is in extended position, and means forwithdrawing said part out'of engagement with said first named means whensaid leg is given a part turn axially.

8. A table comprising a frame, a leg support on said frame, a legpivoted to'said support, interengaging means on said support and legwhen said leg is extended, means to limit the extending movement of saidleg,'and means for preventing engagement of said interengaging meanswhen said leg is given a part turn axially.

9. In a table, a support, a leg comprising a sleeve portion and a mainleg portion, pivot means passing through said leg and sleeve portion, aspring in said leg portion and confined between the top of said legportion and said pivot means for normally urging said leg portion intosaidsleeve, "means for movlnasaid leg portions mdetarmined distance outrun mid sleeve portion when said leg poztionisgiven a pasta-urn.

10. In a table, a supprmt. a leg pivoted thereto and comprising a sleeveportion and s les portion, said sleeve portion having round holes andsaid leg por'don'hsvmg diagonal holesriastenins means through saidsupport and all of said holes, a, spring in said leg portion andengaging the fastening means for normally iurging said leg portion inone direction, said leg being movable vertically by limited rotationthereof. 7

11. A table having a support, a leg pivoted to said support andcomprising a sleeve portion and a leg portion telescoping with saidsleeve portion, fastening means through said support, leg and sleeveportions, a. socket member, meanstor causing sad leg portion to seat insaid socket member when extended, and meansfor unseating saidilegportion from said socket member by turning said leg portion. I

12. The method oifastening a member having a closed end'to a secondmember andproviding spring tension therebetween which consists ininserting a spring in-the first member, providing a free end on saidspring, returning the free end through the coils of said spring,providing a hole in the closed end, extendlm the free end through thehole, compressing said spring by pulling on said free end, passingmtening means through both of said members near the end of said springaway iromsaidclosed end, and finally cutting the free end of said springand restricting said spring between the fastening means. and :the closedend.

13. The method oi confining springs in a memher having a closed endwhich consists inproviding a spring having a long returned end,providlng a hole insaid closed end through which the free and extends,compressing said spring by pulling on said free end, then passing meansthrough said member to. restrict said springbotween the closed end andthe last and finally cutting oil that part of thespring end whichprojects beyond ftheclosed end or said member.

14. A table having a support, a sleeve pivoted to said support, a legoperatively connected to said sleeve, and means for urging said leglongitudinally relative to said sleeve.

15. A table having a support, a sleeve pivoted to said support, a legoperatively connected to said sleeve, means for urging saidleglengthwise relative to said sleeve, and means cooperating with thesleeve and leg for moving the leg inwardly relative to said sleeve whenrotational moveme'nt .is applied to said leg.

16. A table having a support, a sleeve pivoted to said support, alegoperativelyeonnected to said sleeve, means !or urging said leg.lengthwise relative to said sleeve, meam cooperating with the sleeve andleg for moving the leg inwardly relative to said sleeve-when rotationalmovement is applied to said leg. and complementary means on saidsupportand sleeve and engageable when the leg is in extended'position:

1'1. A table having a supports sleeve, a leg telescoping withsaidsleeve, said leg and sleeve having alinedholes, a pivot memberpassing through said holes in the sleeve and legyand pivotallyconnectingsaid sleeve and leg to said support, and means for permittingtelmcopic action between said sleeveand leg.

'18. A table having asnpport, a sleeve, a leg ing with said sleeuemivottormentin: said shone Mirifld support. saidleg lidng provided withoppositely so; diagonal slots through whaehdhe pivot member extends, andspring means engaging the pivot member and urging-the leg lengthwiserelative to said sleeve whereby rotational movement applied to said legwill telescope the leg within the sleeve.

19. In a table, a support, a sleeve, alined holes in said support andsleeve, a pivot pin extending throughsaid alined holes for pivoting thesleeve to the support, a leg telescoping with said sleeve, said legbeing provided with oppositely disposed inclined slots through which thepivot pin extends, and springmeans engaging the leg and the pivot pinandtending tourge the leg from said sleeve whereby rotationalzmovementimparted to said leg will retract the. leg into the sleeve apredetermined distance. p

20. A table comprising a leg, means pivotally, rotatively, and slidinglymounting the legrelative tothe table, and interengaging means hetweenthetable and leg, said interengaging means being disengaged when turningmovement is-applied to the leg whereby said leg will be movedlongitudinally.

21. A table comprising a leg connected thereto for pivotal andlongitudinal rotational movement, means on said leg engageable with apart of said table, means to urge the leg lengthwise of its connectionand acting againstsaid last named means, and means to cause saidrotational movement to produce longitudinal movement of the leg.

22. A table comprising .a top having a locking mcmber,'sup port meanscomprising a plurality of substantially co-axially arrangedmembersassociated'tor relative longitudinal movement, one of I said membershaving a locking portion adapted 'toengage the locking member or thetable top,

resilient means for normally urging said portion into locking engagementwith said cooperative locking member, oneof said members being hollowand forming a housing for said resilient meanaand manually actuatedmeans for shitting said shittable locking portion against the action ofsaid resilient means.

23; A table comprising a top having a locking socket on its underside,means forsupporting the table top including a hollow elongated sheetmetal member pivoted to the underside of the table top 5 to swing from afolded position adjacent the underside of the table to an erectedposition at right angles tothe top, said supporting means including anelongated lockingmember shii'table in a direction longitudinally of andwithin said elongated sheet metal member into said locking socketto-lock said supporting means inerected position,.-and spring meanshoused within said hollow elongated sheet metal member for normallyurging said locking member along its own longitudinal axis into :locklngposition with re- "spect tosaid socket.

and movable longitudinally with respect thereto,

resilient means for so moving the projection into the top locking socketas the support member is moved to said angular position, and stop meansfor limiting the movement of the locking projection to-the supportmember.

25. A table comprising a top, a support member movable with respect tothe top from a position substantially in the plane oi. the top to aposition at a substantial angle with respect thereto, a locking socketin the top, a locking projection carried by the support member andmovable axially with respect thereto, resilient means for so moving theprojection into the top locking socket as the support member is moved tosaid angular position, and manually operable cam means for withdrawingthe projection from the locking socket against the action 01' theresilient means.

26. A table comprising a top, a support memher movable with respect tothe top from a position substantially in the plane of the top to aposition at a substantial angle with respect thereto, a locking socketin the top, a locking projection carried by the support member andmovable an axially with respect thereto, resilient means for so movingthe projection into the top locking socket as the support member ismoved to said angular position, and manually operable rotatable cammeans for withdrawing the projection from the locking socket against theaction of the resilient means. 27. A table comprising a top, anelongated hollow support member movable with respect to the top from aposition substantially in the plane 5 3471!! the top to a. position at asubstantial angle the projection through the longitudinal end of thesupport member into the top locking socket as the support member ismoved to said angular position.

28. A table comprising a top, an elongated hol- 5 low support membermovable with respect to the top from a position substantially in theplane of the top to a position at a substantial angle with respectthereto, a locking socketin the top, a locking projection carried by thesupport member within the longitudinal limits thereof and movablelongitudinally with respect thereto, and an elongated coil compressionspring longitudinally mounted within the support member along the lineof movement of the locking projection for moving the projection throughthe longitudinal end of the support member into the top locking socketas the support member is moved to said angular position.

29. A table comprising a top, a support member pivotally movable withrespect to the top from a position substantially in the plane of the topto a position at a substantial angle with respect thereto, a lockingsocket in the top, a locking JAMES E. BALES. CARL T. CHRISTENSEN.

